Imparting permanent press characteristics

Abstract

The method for imparting permanent press characteristics to textile articles without using textile resins and textile resin catalysts includes applying to the textile article, a urethane acrylate prepolymer or an epoxy acrylate prepolymer or an acrylated polyester prepolymer or a water soluble monomer having a molecular weight less than 300 and selected from the group comprising acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, esters and substituted esters of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid and amides of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid, or prepolymers of such monomers, curing the prepolymer or monomer in situ on the textile article using ultraviolet radiation, and pressing the textile article along a crease after the application of the prepolymer or monomer. The pressing step may be applied either before or after the curing of the prepolymer or monomer.

The claims defining the invention are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A method for imparting permanent press characteristics to textile articles without using textile resins and textile resin catalysts comprising the steps of: (a) applying to the textile article, at least in the area to be creased and pressed, a urethane acrylate prepolymer or an epoxy acrylate prepolymer or an acrylated polyester prepolymer;   (b) curing the prepolymer in situ on the textile article using ultraviolet radiation or an electron beam; and   (c) pressing the textile article along a crease after the application of the prepolymer and after the curing of the prepolymer.   
     
     
       2. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which a water soluble monomer having a molecular weight less than 300 and selected from the group comprising acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, substituted acrylic and methacrylic acids, esters and substituted esters of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid, and amides and substituted amides of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid, or a prepolymer of any one or more of these monomers is applied to the textile article together with the urethane acrylate prepolymer, epoxy acrylate prepolymer or acrylated polyester prepolymer. 
     
     
       3. A method as claimed in claim 2, in which the molecular weight of the monomer does not exceed 200. 
     
     
       4. A method as claimed in claim 2, in which the molecular weight of the monomer does not exceed 150. 
     
     
       5. A method as claimed in claim 2 or 4, in which the monomers are selected from the group comprising acrylic acid, diethylamino ethyl methacrylate, hydroxy acrylate, hydroxy propyl acrylate, N-methylol acrylamide, 2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate and diethyl amino ethyl acrylate. 
     
     
       6. A method as claimed in claim 2 which the monomers are applied to the textile article from an aqueous or alcoholic solution. 
     
     
       7. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the prepolymers are formed by ultra-violet or ionising radiation. 
     
     
       8. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the prepolymer is applied to both faces of the textile article in the area to be creased. 
     
     
       9. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which both faces of the textile article are subjected to the ultra-violet radiation or electron beam in the area to which the prepolymer has been applied.